News from the CEPA e-mail list

Wings Over Wetlands Web site launched (03/04/08)

Good morning All:

Just a little late in hitting the launch day but never mind, it's still hot news - the Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) project web site is now available to keep you up-to-date on implementation. As you will see from the press release below, Ramsar is part of the WOW partnership and has been closely involved in various aspects of the development of the project. The web site is well designed and very pleasing to work through so take a few moments to have a look here http://www.wingsoverwetlands.org/ to find out more about the demonstration sites, the critical sites network, the training modules and much more.

My congratulations to Florian Keil, the web site's mastermind for a great job!

Best regards, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat
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WOW Web site launched - helps highlight African-Eurasian flyway initiative

Bonn/Cambridge/Gland/Wageningen, 2 April 2008 - Launched today, the Web site of the Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) Project at http://www.wingsoverwetlands.org/ gives a fresh insight into the many activities currently underway in this largest international wetland and waterbird conservation initiative ever in the African-Eurasian region.

The new Web site hosted by Wetlands International gives visitors a quick overview and first impression of the different components of the project. In addition to providing information on the Critical Site Network (CSN) Tool and a customised Flyway Training Module being developed under the project, it contains pages for each of the 11 conservation projects currently being carried out on the ground in 12 different countries in the AEWA region.

The Wings Over Wetlands project will help foster international collaboration along the African-Eurasian flyways, build capacity for monitoring and conservation, and demonstrate best practice in the conservation and wise use of wetlands in these 12 selected countries.

The WOW Project is a unique partnership of organisations involved in the conservation of waterbirds and their wetland habitats. It is a collaborative effort between Wetlands International and BirdLife International, with the support from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and UNEP/GEF. WOW supports the implementation of both the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

The Project is sponsored by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the AEWA Secretariat and several other donors.

The Web site was developed by the Communication Officer of the Project in close cooperation with the Project Coordination Unit and the Communications team at Wetlands International. For comments and/or suggestions on the Web site please contact: Florian Keil at info@wingsoverwetlands.org or + 49 228 8152451

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